Adjustable automatic relief-valve.



vNo..644,27l. Patented Feb. 27, |900. F. S. BEAN.

ADJUSTABLE AUTOMATIC RELIEF VALVE.

(Application led Oct. 18, 1899.)

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PATENT ADJUSTABLE AUTOMATIC ARELIEF-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,271, dated February27, 1900.

Application filed October 16, 1899. Serial No. 733,765. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED S. BEAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Manchester, county of Hillsborough, State of New Hampshire,have invented an Improvement in Adjustable Automatic Relief-Valves, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention relates to valve mechanism, and more especially tocontrolling means therefor, the organization being such that any backpressurethat may take place from any causefor example, bythe shutting oof a valve in a pipe at a distant point from the pump-will be properlyand automatically compensated for without the possibility o f such pipebursting under abnormal pressure.

My improved apparatus is of prime utility in connection with afire-engine, as the back pressure resulting in iexible hose-pipes whenthe discharge-valves for the latter are shut or when they are suddenlybent frequently causes them to burst; but this is not possible with myapparatus, which, as before stated, relieves the back pressure.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a cross-sectional detail of a portion of asuction-pump barrel, showing vacuum and discharge chambers therein andprovided with relief-valve mechanism constructed in accordance withmyinvention in a simple embodiment thereof. Fig. 2 is a similar view ofthe valve mechanisrn'and certain adjacent parts, showing the valve inthe position it occupies when forced from its seat. Fig. 3 is a Viewcorresponding to Fig. 2 and shows a modified type of valve mechanism.

The relief-valve mechanism is capable of many different uses; but it isof importance in connection with a fire-engine, in which case it canproperly compensate for any back pressure that may ensue from cuttingoff the water at the nozzles of the hose-pipe or the sudden flexing orbending of the latter, and when such back pressures occur the piping notbeing constructed to resist them frequently bursts.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, I have illustrated a portion of the barrel orcasing of a vacuumpump of well-known construction having alternatevacuum and discharge chambers, as

Vvacuum-chamber 12 from a hydrant or like source of supply and passinginto the discharge-chamber 13, and from the latter into a hose, where itcan be directed to suit the fireman or other person handling the hose.

The suction-pump partially illustrated is one of a known type, and Ihave not deemed it necessary to illustrate the valve controlling theiiow of water from the chamber 12 to the chamber 13. I have illustrateda duplex valve as a means for also governing communication between thetwo chambers, t'he latterbeing separated by a wall 15, having at asuitable point a port 16, through whichthe water from thedischarge-chamber 13 can pass and enter the communicating Vacuum-chamber12, provided the pressure of the water is beyond normal.

The relief-valve is denoted in a general way by V, and it is representedas being` tubular or cylindrical, and the lower end thereof is adaptedto bear against the Wall 15, as shown in Fig.1, and to be held normallyin such position by means of a suitable nature. The means for holdingthe valve seated or closed consists, preferably, of a spring of suchstrength as to hold the valve closed under normal pressure, but whichwill permit the yielding of the valve under abnormal pressure by theWater itself, it being evident from this that the valve is automaticallyunseated by the excessive pressure. The upper end of the main or reliefvalve V is closed, except at its center, from which the boss or tubularstud 17 of the stem 1S of the auxiliary valve' Vl extends.

The valve-chamber is denoted by C and is a washer 20, fitted snugly overthe. tubular projection 17 of said valve and engaging the upper closedend thereof and provided with IOO a downturned circular iiange 21,adapted to bind against the contiguous tapered surface of thevalve-chamber. The washer is held iirmly against the upper closed end ofthe valve by the ring 22, the outer edge of which is straight and whichslides upon the straight port-ion of the wall of the valve-chamber. Thering 22 is held in place by the nut 23, which is in threaded engagementwith the upper end of the tubular projection 17 and has a series ofspanner-openings in its periphery, by which it may be screwed rrnly homeand tightly against the said ring 22, so that the latter may serve tohold the washer 2O in place.

The chamber or casing C is screw-threaded into the pump-'barrel and isprovided with an annular shoulder 24.-, adapted to iit against the same,as shown in Fig. 1. The upper open end of the chamber or casing C, whichhouses the valve V, is closed by the cap 25, the two parts being inJthreaded engagement and the shouldered portion 26 of the cap fittingagainst the chamber and having one or more Spanner-recesses, by which itcan be turned into or out of its seat. The tube 26 extendsperpendicularly from the cap 25 and incloses the stem 18 for theauxiliary Valve V', which, it will be seen upon inspection of thedrawings, is inclosed by and slidable within the automatically operativereliefvalve. The stem 18, adjacent the valve, is provided with the nut45, which holds the washer 46 in place against the valve V and againstthe adjacent wall of the tubular relief-valve, so that a snugwater-tight fit between these two parts is secured.

XVhat is shown in the drawings as the lower end of the tubularprojection or sleeve 26 is surrounded by the ring 27, which normallyfits against the adjacent face of the cap 25, said ring being annularlyrecessed, as at 28, to receive the lower coil of the protractile spring20, the upper coil being fitted within an annular recess 30 upon theunder side of the handle or nut 31, which is threaded upon the upper endof the tubular sleeve 26. The ring 27 is provided upon its under sidewith a series of downwardly-disposed pins 35, suitably xed thereto andextending through openings in the cap 25 and bearing at their lower freeends against the nut 23.

By turning the handle 31 the tension of the spring can be regulated sothat the valve V will yield under abnormal pressure.

The stem 18 of the auxiliary valve V', which is shown consisting of asolid cylinder, is in threaded engagement with the inner wall of thetube 26 and is provided at its upper end with the handle 32, by which itmay be turned, thereby to advance or retract the cylindrical valve. Thesaid valve is shown, respectively, in its retracted and advancedpositions by full and dotted lines, respectively, in Fig. 1, and it isbeveled along its lower edge, as at 32', to fit when closed against thecorrespondingly-bevcled portion 33 around the upper end of the port 16,thereby obtaining a close 'oint.

J The valve V is retracted by the action of the backing water, and whenit is desired to use the same the valve V will be opened Wide, as shownby the full lines in Fig. 1, so that when the main or relief valve opensthe water can pass from the chamber 13 into the chamber 12 through thecommunicating port or passage 16. lVhen, however, it is desired todispense with the automatic action of the appliance, the valve V will beforced firmly against its seat, so as to close the port 1G, whereby evenshould the valve V from any purpose be lifted water cannot pass from thechamber 13 to the chamber 12.

It will be seen upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that the valve chamberor space in which the valve V slides is of progressivelyincreasing area,which action permits a very free movement of the valve the instant thesame is forced from its seat, as the iiexible ring or washer 2O willhave a greater space in which to expand, thereby reducing the frictionbetween the two parts, and, as before stated, permitting amaterially-freer retraction of the valve.

It will be understood that the function of the coiled spring 29 is tohold the main or relief valve V against its seat under normal pressureand that this tension should be such that it will be compressed underabnormal pressures, which happen frequently ,through the causeshereinbefore set forth. When the excessive pressure is relieved, thevalve V will be closed at once by the relaxing spring 29.

It will be assumed that the water from the chamber 13 has been suddenlyshut off. In some cases back pressure might ensue, and ordinarily thisis sufficient to burst a rubber hose. In the present case, however, thewater as it backs up will strike the washer 20 upon the valve, andthereby automatically unseat the latter, so that the excess water canpass from the chamber 13 into the chamber 12 through the port 16.

In Fig. 2 the automatically-active valve is shown as occupying itsretracted position. Not only can the backing water flow into thevacuum-chamber 12, but it can also pass into the valve-chamber AC byreason of the gradually-increasing area of the latter as the valveopens, such area permitting the specified function. Y

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of the appliance, wherein therelief-valve V is made in two sections and is beveled off upon its loweredge, as at 35. The two parts of the modified type of valve are denotedby 36 and 37, the part 37 being of ring shape and being screw-threadedwithin its companion. The auxiliary valve V (shown in modified form)includes a nut or ring 38 in threaded engagement with the stem of thevalve, and between which and the shoulder 39 upon the stem 18 the washer4.0 is fitted. The valve proper, 38, is held in place by means of thepin 41, ex-

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tending transversely through the same and the stem 18. The auxiliaryvalve V is adapted to be seated against the ring 37, and when it is insuch position it serves to hold the main valve V firmly against itsseat, so that lthe latter cannot be moved backward.

The invention is not limited to the parts previously set forth nor totheir arrangement in the manner indicated, for both these points may bemodified within the spirit of the appended claims.

While the valve mechanism previously set forth is of prime utility forsecuring the advantageous function previously set forth in connectionwith a fire-engine, it is obvious that it can be employed to equaladvantage in many other connections.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. A valve apparatus having vacuum and discharge chambers and avalve-chamber, the

latter being of progressivelyincreased area in the direction of theopening movement of the valve,a valve provided with a device fittedsnugly against said'valve-chamber, and means for holding the valveclosed under normal pressure and yieldable under abnormal pressure.

2. A valve apparatus having vacuum and discharge chambers and avalve-chamber, the latter being tapered inward toward its lower end, avalve provided with a device fitted snugly against said valve-chamber,and means for holding the valve closed under normal pressure andyieldable under abnormal pressure.

3. A valve apparatus having vacuum and discharge chambers and avalve-chamber, the latter being of progressively-increased area in thedirection of the opening movement of the valve,a valve provided with adevice fitted snugly against said valve-chamber, and a spring forholding the valve closed under normal pressure and yieldable underabnormal pressure.

4. A barrel, a casing therein and tapered interiorly, a valvemovable inthe casing and provided with au annular member adapted to ins a deviceconnected to said er endicusnugly tit against said casing, and yieldable5o means for holding the valve closed under normal pressure.

5. `A barrel having vacuum and discharge chambersand a wall separatingthe same provided with a port, a cylindrical valve, a casing connectedwith the barrel and adapted to inclose said cylindrical valve, and thecasing being of greater cross-sectional area than the valve, an annulariiexible member carried by the valve and adapted to snugly t against thewall of its casing, a hand-operated valve controlling said port, andmeans operating against the cylindrical valve and serving to hold itclosed under normal pressures.

6. A valve apparatus having vacuum and discharge chambers, and avalve-chamber, a valve'having a stem and of less cross-sectional areathan the valve-chamber, a 'iieXible ring or washer surrounding the stemand having a downturned iiange to tit snugly against the wall of thevalve-chamber, and means for securing said iiexible ring or washer inplace, a second ring surrounding the valve-stem and engaging the saidiiexible ring or washer, and a nut in threaded engagement with the stemand serving to hold said second ring in place.

7. A barrel having vacuum and discharge chambers, a casing fitted to thebarrel, and having a cap-piece provided with a perpendicular projection,a ring surrounding said perpendicular projection and having a series ofpins extending through the cap-piece, a valve movable in said casing andprovided with means adapted to be operated by said lar projection, and aspring acting against said device and ring, and means cooperative withthe valve and serving to unseat the same when acted upon by the waterduringits backward pressure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this'speciication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED S. BEAN.

Witnesses:

ELLIOT C. LAMBERT, FREDERIC S. NUTTING.

